Astrid Lindgren

10/09/2012

Daughter
and I spent the long weekend in Jackson, NH, currently painted the orange,
yellow, and pine green of mountain fall. Driving homeward down Route 16, we
listened to Astrid Lindgren's “Pippi Longstocking” on audio book. I loved the
book and the movie when young, but didn’t remember much.

Should
I continue to listen all the way through and/or Google extensively, I'm sure I
will discover that this childhood favorite is rife with racist commentary,
sexist language, or features Pippi wearing long johns made of the furs of 10 slain
Iberian lynx.

But
up through the point where Pippi takes out a crew of snot-nosed bullies using
only her two scrawny fists, this girl’s proving a superheroine for the ages.

First
off, she’s an orphan. Mama soars with the angels and papa is either king of the
cannibals or sleeping with the fishes.

Secondly,
her garb sets her apart. While Pippi’s roof-hopping shenanigans might be better
served by Batwoman’s aerodynamic latex and shit kickers, Pippi’s a sartorial
stand-alone with her motley get-up and clod-hoppers.

More
importantly, Pippi lives according to her own code. When a pair of policemen
attempts to chase her down and ship her off to an orphanage, she gives them
merry chase, all the while keeping up friendly chatter and pointing out the
many foibles of the polite society into which they’re trying to force her.

Finally,
Pippi possesses superhuman strength. When she cows the aforementioned bullies,
she does so by tossing each into a tree.

Pippi engages me, unlike Supergirl. Unlike Catwoman, she’s
not trying to show me her cleavage. Looking for a heroine? You could do worse
than Pippilotta Longstocking.